Parkinson’s Disease

Question 1

Symptoms

Answer 1

rigidity, tremors, difficulty in initiating/stopping movement, memory & other cognitive deficits

Question 2

Primarily from:

Answer 2

degeneration of Dopaminergic axons from especially Substantia Nigra (Tegmentum) to Striatum

• Result: Increased inhibition from Globus Pallidus to Thalamus, decreasing Thalamic excitation of Cortex

Question 3

Treated primarily by:

Answer 3

by L-dopa

= Dopamine precursor that crosses Blood-Brain barrier

Question 4

L-Dopa

Answer 4

Dopamine precursor that crosses Blood-Brain barrier

Reduces symptoms but does not prevent continued neural degeneration; can have serious side effects

Question 5

Some traced to environmental toxins

Answer 5

(pesticides); Ingest MPTP, converted to MPP+ =>accumulates in S.N.

Question 6

Early-onset Parkinson’s

Answer 6

seems to be genetically linked; Late-onset does not